Wouter Basson back in court

May 6 2010 at 10:40am

Dr Wouter Basson, former head of the apartheid regime's chemical and biological weapons research programme, launched an application in the High Court in Pretoria to stop the Health Professions Council of SA (HPCSA) from investigating his past.

Basson, who did not attend the proceedings, was expected to ask the court to block the HPCSA from investigating his involvement in Project Coast, the research programme that he headed.

The HPCSA had since 2000 been investigating Basson's involvement in the project, saying that he had acted unethically.

The cardiologist was acquitted in 2002 on criminal charges related to his position as head of the SA National Defence Force's Project Coast.

Basson was represented by advocate Jaap Cilliers, who was also currently representing former police chief Jackie Selebi in his corruption case, while advocate Gilbert Marcus represented the HPCSA. -